Corrie star Kate had to persuade Anne AUNTY PAM’S MINER ROLE

FORMER Coronation Street star Kate Anthony was delighted to bag the part of Anne Scargill in a play.

But not everyone was sure Kate was right for the juicy role.

Kate, who was lovable wheeler dealer Aunty Pam in Corrie, had to win over feisty Anne herself.

The ex-wife of miners’ union boss Arthur Scargill believed Anne was not northern enough.

But the campaigner changed her mind when she saw Queens of the Coal Age, written by Shameless star Maxine Peake.

The play tells the true story of how Anne and three other brave women, who were part of the Women Against Pit Closures movement, occupied a coal pit over the Easter weekend in 1993.

Kate, 54, who was born in Leeds, said: “When we first all met she said: ‘Right who’s the one playing me, who’s she then?’

“I think she was a little bit taken aback – I haven’t got a very strong northern accent because I’ve lived in London for so long.

“She said: ‘You’re going to be me then are you?’ And I said: ‘I am from Leeds, Anne’. I think she was a little bit: ‘Who the hell’s this to take me on?’ ”

But after seeing the play Anne, who is in her 70s, told Kate it had been wonderful and she loved it.

The powerful drama also moved Anne because one of her fellow protesters, Lesley Lomas, had died at the age of 52 in 2013.

Kate said: “She said it made her a bit sad because Lesley has since died. Maxine had taped them speaking about the experience so a lot of the dialogue is their dialogue. Hearing the words, she could see her.

Harrowing

“She said it was difficult looking back. She was still married to Arthur at that time and obviously they’re no longer together.”

As part of her preparation, Kate and her co-stars went down a former mine in a museum in Wakefield, West Yorks, accompanied by Anne.

Kate said: “It was the first time she’s been allowed down a cave since the occupation so it was quite a surreal experience.

“We were down the mine for an hour and a half, that was enough for me.

“Anne’s got a lot more guts that I will ever have. She’s this tiny woman but even in her mid 70s she’s a very formidable character. She takes no nonsense and tells